The border between India and Pakistan seems to have been blurred for the 70-odd families of Punjab's Ferozepur district. For, according to the Indian revenue records, the three villages they belong to fall in Pakistan.

Even after 67 years of Independence, the land despite being part of India continues to be shown as Pakistani territory in the district's revenue records.

The anomaly that shows a major chunk of these villages – Nihalewala, Kaluwala and Ahmedhwala – in Kasur district of Pakistan dates back to 1947. Despite the local revenue officials submitting a report regarding this three years ago, nothing seems concrete to have been done.

As most villagers settled in the area are migrants from Pakistan there are no documents to back their claim on the land. Meanwhile, fearing loss of possession of land, villagers did not report the error to the authorities.

With the villagers keeping quiet, development too bypassed the area. Amenities like sewerage, schools, hospitals, road connectivity and drinking water supply are unheard of; in fact, it was only five years ago that the villages got electricity.

"Perhaps it was a clerical mistake committed during the consolidation of land records soon after partition," a revenue official, on condition of anonymity, said.

Now, if the director (land) accepts the re-consolidation report as prepared by the revenue officials, either the land in question would be allotted a new number or be included in the earlier existing and adjoining khasra number, sources said.

HT had recently highlighted the issue, following which the director, land record, was asked for permission to have reconsolidation, which was granted. Now, the entire process of its re-consolidation has been accomplished but villagers yet await its final approval from the director, lands.

Deputy commissioner Manjit Singh Narang acknowledged that the report was sent to the office of the director, lands, for further action but no response has been received so far.